Doris Schneider Soghor

August 27, 1931 - February 3, 2023

Doris Soghor, a renowned long-time medical director and administrator for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and a similarly valued consultant to California state mental health policy, died on February 3, 2023 at the age of 91 in the residence in Beverly Hills she consistently occupied for almost exactly 90 years. She was born to Herman Schneider and Helen Brown in New York City, and as an infant accompanied them on the adventure to begin her full life in that unique enclave in the early 1930’s.

Academically and socially, she blossomed. First in the Beverly Hills school system at Hawthorne Elementary and Beverly Hills High School, Class of 1947, and then continuing to Pomona college to graduate with a degree in art history in 1953. She traveled back east to pursue further graduate studies in art history at Columbia University. Doris returned to California from New York City and independently sought out a field that would provide a wider outlet for her talents. She was accepted at UCLA Medical School in 1959. There she met her romantic life partner, Dave Soghor. They were married in 1960 and graduated from medical school together in 1963. Doris completed residencies in psychiatry and child psychiatry.

Doris and Dave shared a rich married life for over 62 years. The center of their collaboration was their family, with three children and four grandchildren. Through the years, they often gathered to celebrate the lives of all that group together.

For many decades, Doris was an officer and eventually president of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry. The activism of that organization preceded the current attention given to adolescent mental health. She was also actively involved in the alumni organizations of Pomona College and UCLA Medical School.

Doris was an avid foodie and shared her passion for cuisine with her husband and children. Her culinary interests started in her youth and her expertise developed early. Her own mother Helen was a model of the delicate attention needed for the exquisite doings that can go on in a kitchen, and Doris extended that focus to new heights. There was always time to cook, share a good meal as a family, or host a gathering of friends and relatives that centered around fine food. Doris and her husband appreciated the arts and literature. This involvement expanded her sharp intellectual acuity.

Doris retired in 2011 at the age of 80. She worked to improve mental health care for the children of Los Angeles County for 40 years. She developed therapeutic arts programming for the Los Angeles County mental health system. Throughout her long career, she inspired and mentored many of her colleagues and provided supervision for psychiatric students. She was also a devoted mother, an early “working mom” and continued as a “working grandma”, always making time for her family and life’s big and little transitions.

Late in life, Doris developed cognitive dementia. Her recent death was due to a sudden stroke. She will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her. Doris will be remembered not only for her unconquerable spirit, but for her warm and gracious ways.

She is survived by her husband, Dave Soghor, her children Lisa Soghor (spouse George Kelly), Matthew Soghor, and Jennifer Soghor (spouse James Crabbe), and by her four grandchildren Kieran Kelly, Declan Kelly, Sydney Crabbe, and Farron Crabbe. Her sister Nancy Kaufman predeceased her in 1995. She also leaves her sister-in-law Linda Goodman and her brother-inlaw William Soghor (spouse Phyllis Herfield) as well as her nieces and nephews.

An honoring of her life will be announced soon. Donations in her memory can be made to Pomona College or UCLA Medical School.